Pedro Manuel Monteiro Cardoso Rodrigues
- compositor
Sung and interpreted by the great names of Cape Verdean music, Pedro Rodrigues is one of the most sublime poets and composers born in Cape Verde.
Born on the island of Fogo, he soon emigrated to Angola, a land he adopted as his second homeland. Here he made his entire academic, sporting, social and professional life. Carrying the distance from Mãe-Pátria that he had left behind, gave him the genius of the poetic vein that, although asleep, he unconsciously inherited from his grandfather, Pedro Monteiro Cardoso.
The poetic basis of his music, which for the artist is the main factor for the success of any composition, is his experience. "Most of my songs are related to my own life, namely the problem of emigration, which was and continues to be one of the most striking facets of Cape Verdeans," and concludes, "many left Cape Verde and went to other countries where they suffered real slavery. Perhaps because emigration has touched me directly, it is one of the themes that I most portray".
It is the strength of his messages that made his poetry find interpreters such as Bana, Cesária, Ildo Lobo, Tito Paris, Tonecas Marques and many others. However, and despite feeling honored by all of them, there was a group that projected him: Os Tubarões. As he says, "the whole initial phase of my career I owe it to them. I've had a lot of encouragement from Luís Morais and Ildo, who have always supported me in writing. For two years, Os Tubarões recorded nine of my songs, so I consider them to be the main drivers of my career," said Pedro Rodrigues.
On July 5, 2000, the Presidency of the Republic of Cape Verde awarded Pedro Rodrigues with the 1st Class of the Medal of Vulcão.
Sung and interpreted by the great names of Cape Verdean music, Pedro Rodrigues is one of the most sublime poets and composers born in Cape Verde.
Born on the island of Fogo, he soon emigrated to Angola, a land he adopted as his second homeland. Here he made his entire academic, sporting, social and professional life. Carrying the distance from Mãe-Pátria that he had left behind, gave him the genius of the poetic vein that, although asleep, he unconsciously inherited from his grandfather, Pedro Monteiro Cardoso.
The poetic basis of his music, which for the artist is the main factor for the success of any composition, is his experience. "Most of my songs are related to my own life, namely the problem of emigration, which was and continues to be one of the most striking facets of Cape Verdeans," and concludes, "many left Cape Verde and went to other countries where they suffered real slavery. Perhaps because emigration has touched me directly, it is one of the themes that I most portray".
It is the strength of his messages that made his poetry find interpreters such as Bana, Cesária, Ildo Lobo, Tito Paris, Tonecas Marques and many others. However, and despite feeling honored by all of them, there was a group that projected him: Os Tubarões. As he says, "the whole initial phase of my career I owe it to them. I've had a lot of encouragement from Luís Morais and Ildo, who have always supported me in writing. For two years, Os Tubarões recorded nine of my songs, so I consider them to be the main drivers of my career," said Pedro Rodrigues.
On July 5, 2000, the Presidency of the Republic of Cape Verde awarded Pedro Rodrigues with the 1st Class of the Medal of Vulcão.
